Development of Dry ports in Torkham and Chaman will ease the delivery of cargo in Pakistan

Pakistan’s Strategic Trade Development Policy was announced in December 2012 to enhance the trade facilitation process in the region. As part of the policy, Pakistan has started constructing dry ports in the bordered cities of the country. Pakistan is already working on Wagha Dry Port to facilitate trade with India. It is the part of Rs 22 billion foreign funded dry ports development project, technically assisted and developed by Asian Development Bank.

In the next step, Pakistan has decided to construct more dry ports in border cities of Torkham and Chaman. Commerce minister of Pakistan, Khurram Dastagir Khan confirmed on Wednesday that the Government is constructing dry ports at the Torkham and Chaman border to increase and facilitate the bilateral trade with Afghanistan. It will also ease the internal cargo processes by handling sea cargo containers coming from Karachi, Gwadar and Port Qasim.

The minister added that it would help the economic stakeholders to promote economic integration within the country and with other countries. He expressed these views at the inauguration of “Made in Pakistan Exhibition” organized by the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Kabul.

The minister of commerce restated Pakistan’s determination to intensify bilateral cooperation with Afghanistan in the areas of trade, culture and defense.

He further stated that Pakistan is very keen on enhancing relations with its neighbouring countries including Afghanistan. Prime Minister of Pakistan is also encouraging the cargo and shipping companies to invest in these programs.

Pakistan has also established a Pak-Afghan Joint chamber of commerce and has organized more exhibitions like the “Made in Pakistan Exhibition” in Kabul.

He further asked to develop a separate desk for the facilitation of trade process in the area including Afghanistan and other central Asian countries. Afghan minister of Commerce, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, President of Pak-Afghan’s Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, president of Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the organizers of Made in Pakistan Exhibition also addressed the event.